Recording apparatus with improved counterelectrode

ABSTRACT

The counterelectrode in an apparatus which records intelligence on electrosensitive paper is a cylindrical body having external threads which bear against the conductive layer of paper opposite an advancing roller and ahead of one or more writing heads.

United States Patent Hurst June 24, 1975 [54] RECORDING APPARATUS WITH 5329368 lg; gllain 5436 22725 v 44 urman IMPROVED COUNTERELECTRODE 3,314,072 4/l967 Littau 11 346/74 E {75] Inventor: K rt H rst, S g r Germany 1435,190 3/1969 Schirmer 1. 346/74 s 1 3,596,282 7/197l Stegenga 346/74 E [73] Ass'gnee- 2 Bsch Stuttgart 3,781,904 12 1973 Fimig 346/74 E ermany [22] Filed: Sept' 1973 Primary liraminer-Bernard Konick [211 App]. No; 400,319 Assistant E.\'aminerlay P. Lucas Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 0 t. 2. 1972 G 22483l8 C many 57 ABSTRACT 5' Gold {5/06 The counter-electrode m an apparatus which records [58] Fie'ld 4 CH 74 5 intelligence on electrosensitive paper is a cylindrical S 1l8/637 body having external threads which bear against the conductive layer of paper opposite an advancing roller [56] References Cited and ahead of one or more writing heads.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 2,391,765 l2/1945 Artzt 346/74 E RECORDING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED COUNTERELECTRODE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for recording intelligence on tapes or webs, and more particularly for recording intelligence on webs of electrosensitive paper or the like. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in electrode means for recording intelligence on a tape or web of electrosensitive material.

It is already known to record intelligence on a webor tape of electrosensitive material in an apparatus wherein the web is transported lengthwise past one or more electrodes which constitute writing or recording heads and cooperate with a counterelectrode. In many instances, the counterelectrode resembles a drum or roller which biases the web against a member (e.g., a motor-driven drum or roller) of the web advancing or transporting mechanism. One side of the web is coated with a film of conductive material; therefore, all of the electrodes must contact the conductive film in order to complete the circuit of that writing head or those writing heads which are to record intelligence on the web. A drawback of presently known roller-shaped counterelectrodes is that their peripheral surfaces are likely to become contaminated after relatively short periods of use and the layer of foreign matter on the roller-shaped electrodes adversely affects the flow of current between the conductive film and the electrodes, especially if the web is coated with aluminum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved counterelectrode which can be used in apparatus for recording information on electrosensitive webs or tapes and which remains in a highly satisfactory contact with the conductive film of the web even if the film consists of aluminum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counterelectrode in an apparatus for recording information on electrosensitive webs or tapes with novel and improved web-contacting means which insures a satisfactory contact with the conductive film irrespective of whether or not the counterelectrode is freshly installed in the apparatus or is in use for an extended period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a counterelectrode which can be installed in existing recording apparatus.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus for recording intelligence on an electrosensitive web which may include a strip of paper one side of which is coated with aluminum or another metal. The apparatus comprises transporting means which serves to advance a web lengthwise, along a predetermined path and includes a roller or another suitable advancing member which engages one side of the web in the predetermined path, at least one first electrode which contacts the other side of the web, and a counterelectrode which is adjacent to the other side of the web opposite the advancing member and has a plurality of web-engaging projections, e.g., in the form of an external thread whose helices are biased against the other side of the web. The counterelectrode may constitute a roller which extends transversely of the path of the web and is parallel to the advancing member of the transporting means. The projections are preferably uniformly distributed at the periphery of the counterelectrode.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved recording apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a recording apparatus wherein the counterelectrode is constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the counterelectrode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an apparatus wherein a driven roller 1 which forms part of a transporting mechanism serves to advance a web 2 of electrosensitive paper in the direction indicated by arrow A. The reference character 3 denotes an amplifier one output of which is connected to a first electrode 4 constituting a writing head and another output of which is connected to a second electrode 5 which constitutes a counterelectrode and is constructed, assembled and mounted in accordance with the present invention.

The counterelectrode 5 is a roller shaped body having a shaft 6 which is mounted in bearings 70, 7b and is biased by helical springs 80, 8b or analogous biasing means so as to urge the counterelectrode against the conductive film at the upper side of the web 2. As shown, the counterelectrode 5 biases the web 2 against the periphery of the advancing roller I ahead of the point where the writing head 4 engages the conductive film of the web. Such film is assumed to consist of aluminum.

FIG. 2 shows that the counterelectrode 5 is formed with uniformly distributed external projections 5a which alternate with helical grooves and constitute a helical thread. The top lands of the helices which form the thread 5a engage the conductive film of the web 2 to thus insure that current flowing between the electrodes 4, S encounters minimal resistance at the points where the threads 5a engage the web. The springs 80, 8b are strong enough to insure that the threads 50 bear against the conductive layer of the web 2 with a substantial force. The provision of threads 5a reduces the total area of contact between the web 2 and counterelectrode 5 with the result that the conditions for establishing a satisfactory path for electric current are much more satisfactory than in conventional apparatus wherein the counterelectrode is a roller having a cylindrical web-engaging peripheral surface.

The manner of completing the circuit of the electrodes 4, 5 and amplifier 3 in order to record intelligence on the web 2 is known in the art and, therefore, is not shown in the drawing. The apparatus may comprise two or more writing heads.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In an apparatus for recording intelligence on an electrosensitive web, a combination comprising transporting means arranged to advance a web lengthwise along a predetermined path and including an advancing member engaging one side of the web in said path; at least one writing electrode contacting the other side of the web in said path; and a counterelectrode adjacent to said other side of the web opposite said advancing member, said counterelectrode having a plurality of web-engaging projections forming part of an external thread on said counterelectrode.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for biasing said counterelectrode against said other side of the web in said path so that said projections urge the one side of the web against said advancing member.

3. A combination as defined in claim I, wherein said advancing member is a roller which extends transversely of said path and said counterelectrode constitutes a second roller which is parallel to said first mentioned roller.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising amplifier means having a first output connected with said writing electrode and a second output connected with said counterelectrode.

S. A combination as defined in claim I, wherein said other side of the web is coated with aluminum.

6. In an apparatus for recording intelligence on an electrosensitive web, a combination comprising transporting means arranged to advance a web lengthwise along a predetermined path and including an advancing member engaging one side of the web in said path; at least one writing electrode contacting the other side of the web in said path; and a counterelectrode adjacent to said other side of the web opposite said advancing member, said counterelectrode having a plurality of web-engaging projections, said counterelectrode constituting a roller extending transversely of said path and said projections being uniformly distributed at the periphery of said roller.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said projections form part of an external thread on said counterelectrode.

8. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising means for biasing said counterelectrode against said other side of the web in said path so that said projections urge the one side of the web against said advancing member.

9. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said advancing member is a roller which extends transversely of said path.

10. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising amplifier means having a first output connected with said writing electrode and a second output connected with said counterelectrode.

1 l. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said other side of the web is coated with aluminum. 

1. In an apparatus for recording intelligence on an electrosensitive web, a combination comprising transporting means arranged to advance a web lengthwise along a predetermined path and including an advancing member engaging one side of the web in said paTh; at least one writing electrode contacting the other side of the web in said path; and a counterelectrode adjacent to said other side of the web opposite said advancing member, said counterelectrode having a plurality of web-engaging projections forming part of an external thread on said counterelectrode.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for biasing said counterelectrode against said other side of the web in said path so that said projections urge the one side of the web against said advancing member.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said advancing member is a roller which extends transversely of said path and said counterelectrode constitutes a second roller which is parallel to said first mentioned roller.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising amplifier means having a first output connected with said writing electrode and a second output connected with said counterelectrode.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said other side of the web is coated with aluminum.
 6. In an apparatus for recording intelligence on an electrosensitive web, a combination comprising transporting means arranged to advance a web lengthwise along a predetermined path and including an advancing member engaging one side of the web in said path; at least one writing electrode contacting the other side of the web in said path; and a counterelectrode adjacent to said other side of the web opposite said advancing member, said counterelectrode having a plurality of web-engaging projections, said counterelectrode constituting a roller extending transversely of said path and said projections being uniformly distributed at the periphery of said roller.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said projections form part of an external thread on said counterelectrode.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising means for biasing said counterelectrode against said other side of the web in said path so that said projections urge the one side of the web against said advancing member.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said advancing member is a roller which extends transversely of said path.
 10. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising amplifier means having a first output connected with said writing electrode and a second output connected with said counterelectrode.
 11. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said other side of the web is coated with aluminum. 